Kemi Badenoch's 'Tory aristocracy' team: Full list of partners, relatives and 'pedigree parents'

After a senior shadow cabinet minister lashed out at members of the government who have links to other senior figures - the Mirror can reveal his own family links - and those of 15 other members of Kemi Badenoch's team

Kemi Badenoch's shadow cabinet team is a “Conservative Aristocracy”, stuffed with Tory relatives, “pedigree parents” and nepo-babies, it can be revealed.

Last week Tory Shadow Minister Alex Burghart lashed out at members of the government who are linked to other senior figures, saying: "It's all who you know or are related to."

But research reveals an astonishing 16 members of Ms Badenoch's top team are related to or in relationships with other Tory politicians, advisors or officials - including Mr Burghart.

Sir Reginald Eyre, Mr Burghart's father in law, is a former Conservative MP and vice-chairman, and served as a minister in the Edward Heath and Margaret Thatcher governments.

"How did Alex Burghart ‘forget’ his father-in-law was a Tory minister whilst he was howling about Labour MPs?" A Labour source said.

"He’s now stitched up the Tory front bench by putting their own family links under the spotlight. He won’t be top of their Christmas card list."

Ms Badenoch herself has family connections in high office - as the first cousin once removed of Yemi Osinbajo, the former Vice President of Nigeria.

She’s also married to Hamish Badenoch, a former Tory councillor and parliamentary candidate.

Victoria Atkins, the Shadow DEFRA Secretary, is the daughter of Sir Robert Atkins, a former Conservative MP and MEP, and Lady (Dulcie) Atkins, a Conservative councillor and mayor.

Last year, she had to say she would recuse herself from any activity as Health Secretary that might conflict with her husband’s job as Managing Director of British Sugar.

James Wild, the Shadow Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, is married to Natalie Evans, Conservative peer and former Leader of the House of Lords.

Sophia True, the daughter of Lord True, the Leader of the Opposition in the House of Lords, was a Special Adviser. to Prime Minister Boris Johnson from 2020-22.

More recently she worked for his Shadow Cabinet colleague Claire Coutinho from September 2023 until the election.

And Ms Coutinho, the Shadow Energy Secretary, is engaged to Adam Hawksbee, the former chair of Rishi Sunak ’s Town’s Unit.

Gareth Bacon, the Shadow Transport Secretary, is married to Cheryl Cooley, a Conservative councillor in Bexley, who also works for Ms Badenoch according to the Register of Interests.

Other members of her top team include relatives of a Tory baron, a former solicitor general, several councillors and candidates and a number of civil servants.

The source added: “Despite losing scores of MPs in their election drubbing, the Conservative aristocracy is still going strong. Tory top brass remains packed with pedigree pals and parents.

“Only bungling Kemi Badenoch and her team could sign off this attack for it to boomerang back on her own side.”

A spokesperson for Ms Badenoch declined to comment.

Kemi Badenoch's Tory aristocracy team in full

Alex Burghart MP (Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary)

• Wife Hermione Eyre is a Contributing Editor of the Evening Standard and daughter of Sir Reginald Eyre, former Conservative MP and vice-chairman, and minister in the Edward Heath and Margaret Thatcher governments.

Kemi Badenoch (Leader of the Tory Party)

• Husband Hamish Badenoch is former Conservative councillor and parliamentary candidate.
• First cousin once removed of former Nigerian Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

Claire Coutinho (Shadow Energy Secretary)

• The former Rishi Sunak Special Adviser is engaged to Adam Hawksbee, Tory think tanker who was made Chair of the Prime Minister’s Towns Unit by Rishi Sunak in January 2024. Now External Affairs at M&S.

Victoria Atkins (Shadow DEFRA Secretary)

• Daughter of Sir Robert Atkins, a former Conservative MP and MEP, and Lady (Dulcie) Atkins, a Conservative councillor and mayor.
• Last year, she had to say she would recuse herself from any activity as Health Secretary that might conflict with her husband’s job as Managing Director of British Sugar.

Lord True (Leader of the Opposition in the House of Lords)

• Daughter Sophia True was a Special Adviser. to Prime Minister Boris Johnson from 2020-22, and most recently for his Shadow Cabinet colleague Claire Coutinho from September 2023 until the election.

Dame Priti Patel (Shadow Foreign Secretary)

• Husband Alex Sawyer is a Conservative councillor and Cabinet Member for Communities on Bexley Council.

Gareth Bacon (Shadow Transport Secretary)

• Bacon is married to Cheryl Cooley (Bacon), a fellow Conservative councillor in Bexley, who also works for Kemi Badenoch according to the Register of Interests.

James Wild MP (Shadow Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury)

• Wild is married to Natalie Evans, Conservative peer and former Leader of the House of Lords.

Ed Argar (Shadow Health Secretary)

• Partner Laetitia Glossop stood for the Conservatives for North Durham in 2015 and 2017.

James Cartlidge (Shadow Defence Secretary)

• His father-in-law is former Conservative MP, Sir Gerald Howarth, who represented Cannock and Burntwood from 1983 to 1992 and then Aldershot from 1997 to 2017.

Lord Johnson (Co-Chairman of the Tory Party)

• Father-in-law is Baron Hamilton of Epsom.

Mark Garnier (Shadow Economic Secretary to the Treasury)

• His cousin, Sir Edward Garnier KC, was Solicitor General from 2010 until 2012 and was the Member of Parliament for Harborough from 1992 until 2017.

Dame Rebecca Harris (Shadow Chief Whip)

• Spouse/partner is a civil servant.

Andrew Bowie MP (Shadow Scottish Secretary, and Shadow Minister for DESNEZ)

• Spouse/partner is a civil servant.

Baroness Williams (Chief Whip in the House of Lords)

• A family member is a civil servant

Gareth Davies MP (Shadow Financial Secretary to the Treasury)

• Two family members are civil servants
• A family member works for an offshore wind company